Newzoo downgrades esports 2020 revenue forecast for third time to $950.3 million
VentureBeat reports: "Market researcher Newzoo has downgraded its esports revenue forecast for 2020 for the third time this year, saying revenues will likely hit...
Thirdverse raises $8.5 million to expand its VR business
VentureBeat reports: "VR developer Thirdverse has completed a Series A funding round worth $8.5 million. Thirdverse worked on the multiplayer sword-fighting VR game Swords...
Facebook Gaming surpassed one billion hours watched in Q3
Gamesindustry.biz reports: "After a significant leap in streaming hours watched due to pandemic-related lockdowns, viewership for Q3 appears to be steadying somewhat, though YouTube...
AMC Theatres Pledges to Stay Open, Touts PVOD Pact With Universal
The Hollywood Reporter reports: "The news came a day after rival Cineworld said it is closing all of its U.S. and U.K. locations amid...
New Study Finds Hollywood Studios Could Lose Money From Movies That Lack Diversity
Deadline reports: "In a new report from the UCLA-based Center for Scholars and Storytellers titled “Beyond Checking A Box: A Lack of Authentically Inclusive...
Moment House raises $1.5 million to elevate live music performances
VentureBeat reports: "Moment House has raised $1.5 million in funding to elevate digital live music performances people pay to attend. It is filling a...
Facebook will test shopping from Reels later this year
The Verge reports: "Instagram only widely launched its TikTok competitor Reels in August, and it’s already looking to monetize the format. The company announced...
Google officially ends support for Daydream VR
Gamesindustry.biz reports: "Google has officially withdrawn from the mobile virtual reality market, confirming it is no longer supporting Daydream."
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Vevo Partners With HeadCount to Promote Voter Registration
Variety reports: "Vevo has announced a partnership with HeadCount, the non-partisan, non-profit organization that promotes participation in democracy through music, culture and digital media."
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Comcast’s Xumo Touts Explosive Growth, Topping 24 Million Monthly Users for Free Streaming Service
Variety reports: "Xumo, the free, ad-supported streaming TV service now owned by Comcast, wants to make the case that it’s in the same league...
Studios “Must Be Willing to Take a Hit” to Keep Cinema Chains From “Falling...
The Hollywood Reporter reports: "B. Riley analyst Eric Wold in a Monday report commented on the delay of the latest James Bond film until...
Twitter plans to change how image cropping works following concerns over racial bias
The Verge reports: "Twitter this week announced it would be changing how image cropping works on its website after concerns that the machine learning-based...
Roblox’s user-generated game platform could go public at $8 billion valuation
VentureBeat reports: "User-generated game platform Roblox has seen its users go through the roof in recent years, and the company is reportedly planning to...
Entertainment Stocks Fall Amid Market Slide After Trump Infection
The Hollywood Reporter reports: "Many entertainment sector stocks were holding up better than the broader market though in early trading."
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Streaming Bots Might Be Tempting, But Artists Should Beware
Hypebot reports: "Given the weight of streaming numbers in the music economy, the idea of employing a streaming bot has a significant allure to...
Super Aggregator ScreenHits TV Closes $2 Million in Funding
The Hollywood Reporter reports: "The U.K.-based service, which allows users to search for content across all online platforms, is set to launch across the...
Consumers Now Favor Streaming Services for Music Discovery Over All Other Sources
Billboard reports: "Don’t take it personally, but your friends and family members just don’t trust you that much when it comes to what they...
‘Quite cynical’: Publishers leery about Google’s $1 billion news licensing pot
Digiday reports: "Google will pay $1 billion to publishers over three years as part of its Google News Initiative from Thursday, starting with publishers...
Facebook’s latest integrations with Instagram could make it harder for regulators to break up...
The Verge reports: "In January 2019, Mike Isaac reported a noteworthy development about Facebook at the New York Times. In the months to come,...
Concord Launches $10M Music & Theater Investment Initiative for Underrepresented Communities
Billboard reports: "Concord has launched a $10 million impact investment initiative that will dedicate capital to “projects, businesses and organizations in the music and...
